John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It has been ruled out of order. If the Deputy wishes, I will explain because we cannot have a full debate on it. To be helpful to Deputy Penrose, I will read the note.

This amendment proposes inserting a new section in the Bill providing for amendment to the First Schedule of the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973 in relation to the computation of continuous service and providing that the period between the two periods of service may, for the purposes of the said First Schedule, be deemed to have been a period of lay-off. This could have the effect of bringing a casual employee's service up to the two year cumulative continuous service requirement to be eligible for statutory redundancy payments against an employer. The amendment therefore has the potential to impose a charge on the revenue in terms of the State as an employer, for example, substitute teachers, and therefore must be ruled out of order in accordance with Standing Order 179(3).

It is out of order and I do not want a substantial debate on it. We have many amendments to deal with that are in order.